Letters to the Exchange

I am an associate member of the Kelley's Corner Steering Committee (KCSC) but this letter represents only my personal opinion.

Mr. Milnes letter of January 6 on Taxation without Representation raises many important issues which the Select Board has ignored in the past, thus signaling to the Town Manager and the School Committee that they may do as they wish with our monies, and when they need more, simply use "support our schools" to rally people for overrides.

Mr. Milnes also notes, "So, let's continue with the town meeting format that almost intentionally excludes many elderly and incapacitated citizens from participating."

In nearby Concord, they've petitioned the state to allow remote participation at Annual and Special Town Meetings. 

TOWN MEETING: The Purest Form of Democracy 
   Every registered voter has the right to vote
         If, and only if, physically in the meeting room at the time of the vote.
                 Required in-person attendance is an obstacle for many voters.
                     Parents with children at home
                     Elderly voters
                     Unwell voters...and more

The Acton Select Board, and the Acton Town Manager have been challenged.

David Manalan

Once again, the Acton powers that be, have put the screws on its senior citizens. The Town
'fathers' have continued their spend, spend, spend mentality with no concern for people on
limited incomes. It doesn't matter if it's purchasing more conservation land in lieu of additional
housing that would increase the tax base, overriding Proposition 2-1/2 to fund the bloated
school system, building a new fire station and buying new fire trucks, funding a new Public Works facility or spending a small fortune at Kelly's Corner that will not amount to a hill of beans.

But it was alright to cheap out and save a few dollars by locating the Senior Center so far away
from 80% of the population that it takes 15-20 minutes to get there.

I live in a retirement community with no city services (e.g. plowing) and no children in the school
system and my taxes just increased by 25%! And my real estate valuation increased by almost
30%. There is NO WAY I could sell my house for 30% more than I paid 3-1/2 years ago.

So, let's continue with the town meeting format that almost intentionally excludes many elderly
and incapacitated citizens from participating.

Thanks a lot.
Bradford Milnes

Thanks for all the work you do to make the Exchange such an informative newspaper. The online format makes it so easy to read!

Best wishes for an enjoyable holiday season and for a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Bernice Baran

Recent deaths of large raptors locally point out the hazards of using second generation
anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). A great horned owl in Belmont died last month after
consuming rodents with SGARs in their systems. Two years ago, a bald eagle in Arlington also
died of SGAR toxins. As residents have witnessed, these magnificent raptors currently live in
Acton. Although private individuals cannot buy poisons with SGARs, licensed pesticide
companies can, and thus they threaten our raptor neighbors. This is short-sighted, as raptors
and other predators are our most effective and cheapest rodent control agents.

Please ask Acton departments not to dispense SGARs in town buildings, either directly or
through contractors. Also, if you live in a house or apartment serviced by a pest control vendor,
please ask that they not use SGARs. Two equally effective measures are far less dangerous
than toxins: keeping barriers to rodent access and food removal. Screening, patching, or closing
off holes and cracks in buildings will exclude rodents from coming indoors. Cleaning up food
from the ground, such as spilled birdseed and accessible compost piles, will also discourage the
rodents from moving in near where you live. If the rodents do come inside, use snap traps that
kill unwanted vermin without threatening wildlife.

We all need to live and work in healthy, rodent-free buildings. Our neighborhood hawks,
owls, foxes, and coyotes will help us as long as we stay away from SGARs.

Yours truly,
Rob Gogan

I have been grateful for a space to read about local stories. I particularly wanted to highlight Tom Beals for his concise and informative coverage of Select Board meetings. It can be tricky to know the happenings in Town Government without having to spend hours attending meetings or parsing the minutes. Thank you to Mr. Beals and the Acton Exchange!

Eric Schlesinger

The Exchange’s November 2024 School Committee Update includes the section Acton-Boxborough student creates immersive scavenger hunt to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. It’s a wonderful project and I am hoping that "the hunt" will be made available to residents and friends to share with their guests to our historically significant area—no tricorn required.

Kathy Peebles

I am an associate member of the Kelley’s Corner Steering Committee (KCSC), but this letter is
my personal opinion.

The proposed purchase of 19 and 35 Wetherbee Street does not make sense to me. The two
parcels are assessed at $385,000. The proposed purchase is for $3,600,000. This almost three-
million-dollar profit requires explanation. Furthermore, these two parcels total 31 flat acres
adjacent to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and Great Road (2A), making them ideal for various
low- and middle-income housing. They abut the Wetherbee Conservation Land of 72 acres.

Putting these properties into conservation land does not make sense, so I urge the town
meeting attendees to vote no on Article 1.

David Manalan

The Town of Acton Special Town Meeting scheduled for Monday, November 25 th at 6:00 PM
offers the citizens of Acton a rare opportunity to preserve the Wetherbee/Moritz property, a
highly visible and environmentally important parcel of land abutting the farmlands and open
space off Wetherbee Street.  I strongly urge all Town residents interested in preserving our
natural environment to attend this Special Town Meeting and vote in favor of permanently
protecting this key 33-acre parcel of woodlands and open space.

The Wetherbee parcel is the forested land backing the farm fields on the northern (right hand)
side of Route 2, just west of the Route 2 rotary.   Preserving this parcel will permanently
preserve the natural beauty of that lovely vista.  But as importantly, it will preserve a diverse
habitat of wooded land and vernal pools.  Located on a ridge upgradient of the Town’s School
Street well field to the south, and Nashoba Brook to the north, protection of the property also
has the potential to protect both the Town’s drinking water, and the water quality of the Nashoba
Brook.  Finally, the parcel also abuts the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, thereby offering recreational
opportunities in the form of connecting pedestrian trail access.

Importantly, funding of the purchase of this parcel will not impact the Town’s budget or taxes. 
Funding of the purchase will be through the use of Community Preservation Act funds dedicated
to land protection and supplemented by a $500,000 state grant and fund-raising by the Acton
Conservation Trust.

I urge you to attend the November 25th Special Town Meeting and join with the Open Space
Committee, the Community Preservation Committee, the Select Board, the Finance Committee,
and the Acton Conservation Trust in voting in favor of this purchase.

Thank you,
Andrew Magee

Entering Acton from the Concord Rotary is a calming experience, leaving the craziness of the traffic circle and entering into a beautiful vista of open space. Many do not realize that the property consisting of a forest at the edge of the agricultural fields, on the right-hand side heading west on Route 2, is private land vulnerable to development.

On Monday, November 25, 2024, Acton will hold a Special Town Meeting to consider the purchase of that land, approximately 33 acres, at 19-35 Wetherbee Street. The purchase price is approximately $3.6 million, largely coming from funds from the Community Preservation Act. There will be no increase in town taxes as a result of this purchase. The Town has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist in the purchase, however the grant requires a Town Meeting vote in favor of purchase before the end of year. The grant also requires that a perpetual conservation restriction be placed on the property, protecting the land for future generations.

The land is of high conservation value and has long been a top priority on the Town's Open Space priority list. It is contiguous with both existing conservation land and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. The forest continues a wildlife corridor through town which includes existing conservation lands, Acton Water District property and Morrison Farm, all lining the Nashoba Brook.

Acton Conservation Trust (www.actonconservationtrust.org), your local non-profit land trust, has pledged to raise and contribute $100,000 toward the purchase of this property by the Town. Please show your support of open space in Acton by donating to Acton Conservation Trust's "Campaign for Wetherbee Woods," and by attending the Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 25th to vote in favor of Article 1.

Joe Cooney

Vice President and Trustee

Acton Conservation Trust

I am the Chair of the Acton Open Space Committee and writing on my own behalf. I urge Acton residents to attend Town Meeting on Monday, November 25th, 6 PM sharp! The first and primary topic is to purchase the 33-acre Wetherbee / Moritz property. Funds for this  purchase were raised through Community Preservation Act funds, grants, and donations.  This vote allows Acton to complete the purchase and preserve this land that's identified as "priority" by Acton's Open Space and Recreation Plan and the Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation.

The Wetherbee / Moritz property is highly visible as you drive west on Route 2 exiting the Concord Rotary.  Adjacent to the Bruce Freeman Rail trail and the Wetherbee Conservation area, this land is a diverse habitat with forests, wetlands, and vernal pools. This property protects Nashoba Brook and wetlands, supporting clean water and flood resilience. The property is listed as a Special Concern for blue-spotted salamanders and migrating waterfowl.

By approving this purchase, we invest in Acton's future.  A positive Town Meeting vote will preserve our community's natural beauty, protect biodiversity, and ensure access to green spaces. Please come to the November 25th Town Meeting at 6 PM.  We need a 2/3 majority vote so your participation is important.

Karen O'Neill

We all enjoy the peace of mind that comes from seeing the large open fields on the north side of Route 2 as you enter Acton from Concord.   It serves as a magnificent gateway to Acton and is the first open vista on Route 2.   We have succeeded in preserving much of this land, but there remains one critical parcel at 19 and 35 Wetherbee Street that is privately owned.   This is a beautiful and historic parcel with majestic trees forming the backdrop to the open fields.  The owners of this land, longtime Acton residents, are interested in seeing it preserved and have offered it to the Town at a considerable discount.   Thanks to the patient efforts of both the sellers and Town officials, an agreement has been reached to purchase this ~33 acre property for $3.68 million, which is well below the market value. 

At the Special Town Meeting on November 25, Article 1 will propose to purchase this land using a combination of Community Preservation Act funds, a $500,000 LAND grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a donation of $100,000 from the Acton Conservation Trust.  Because of these grants and the use of existing land preservation funds, this acquisition will not increase Acton residents’ tax bills.

The Acton Conservation Trust has been working with the owners for more than a decade to reach this goal, and we thank both the owners and Town officials who have worked hard to make this happen.  The last piece of this puzzle is the Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 25 at the Acton Boxborough Regional High School and I hope you will attend to support this project.

Susan Mitchell-Hardt 

President, Acton Conservation Trust 

I write to urge you to support the Select Board and the Community Preservation Committee in the purchase of 33 acres of Historic Wetherbee Woods at the Special Town Meeting on November 25th. With the support of a generous State grant, Community Preservation funds and the pledge from the Acton Conservation Trust, this purchase will have little or no impact on our town budget. 

We have this opportunity to preserve a very special piece of land. The property is the gateway view of Acton when you enter from Concord on Route 2. It is the hillside to your right, and it provides the soothing green of its forested slope. There are many other reasons to protect this land, including the fact that it is a vital part of the Nashoba Brook watershed, and it borders the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. 

This is exactly the type of project that the Community Preservation Act was designed to enable our communities to use in preserving its unique characteristics. 

Pam Resor

Former State Senator 

Although I’m on the Finance Committee, I’m writing on my own behalf. I'm voting “yes” on Question 1, which would specify that the State Auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature.

After hearing State Auditor Diana DiZoglio speak about this ballot question at the Acton-Boxborough Annual Democratic Picnic on Sept. 15, 2024, I was convinced that support for this initiative will help the State Auditor’s office shine a bright light on how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

Then, on Oct. 21, 2024, a performance audit by Auditor DiZoglio's Office, covering the period from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2022, revealed concerns about transparency and accountability in the Massachusetts General Court (the state legislature). The audit, part of a long history of legislative audits dating back to 1849, was hindered by the Legislature's refusal to cooperate. As a result, the Auditor’s Office was unable to assess key areas, such as fund tracking, legislative processes, and the equitable application of policies.

Key findings included a lack of transparency in financial audits and procurement processes, hindering public accountability. The Massachusetts legislative website was also criticized for lacking ease of use and comprehensive content, limiting public engagement. Additionally, Massachusetts remains the only state without a legislative services bureau, which limits the support available to legislators.

The audit highlighted a lack of transparency in how legislative leaders appoint members to committees and leadership roles, further diminishing public oversight. Auditor DiZoglio emphasized the need for transparency, criticizing the Legislature's closed-door approach and calling for greater openness to strengthen democracy.

I agree with Auditor DiZoglio, who said, “Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of our democracy and enable the people to participate in government as intended in our Constitution, in a system of checks and balances. It is beyond past time that we return to the historical practice of this office auditing the Legislature, as has been the case for the vast majority of the history of this office. If there is nothing to hide, open up the doors and let the sunshine in. Sunlight is, after all, the best disinfectant.”

Greg Jarboe

As a veteran public-school teacher, I encourage everyone in our community to vote “yes” on Question 2 this November.

Question 2 asks voters to eliminate the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) graduation requirement for high school students in our state. Currently, over 700 students each year in Massachusetts are denied a high school diploma simply because they cannot pass the 10th grade MCAS test. The vast majority of these students require special education services or are still learning English. A “yes” vote on November 5 would eliminate this punitive requirement and instead allow all deserving students who have successfully completed their high school coursework to earn a diploma.

The purpose of a standardized test like MCAS is to provide policymakers with data and benchmarks to compare one school to another or one district to another. Educational leaders, and not students, should be the ones anxious and worried about MCAS scores. And yet, by requiring all high school students to pass the MCAS, we’ve taken something that should be a diagnostic tool and turned it into a high-stakes test that disproportionately punishes our most vulnerable student population.

Those advocating a “no” vote believe that removing the MCAS graduation requirement will weaken our public schools, but Question 2 makes no changes to our state’s rigorous curriculum standards; high school students seeking a diploma will still have to prove themselves worthy through their coursework and assessments in the classroom and will still be held accountable by the skilled educators who know them best. By eliminating the MCAS graduation requirement, we’re simply removing an arbitrary and unnecessary barrier and making sure that students who have earned the right to graduate may do so without fear or worry about passing a “one size fits all” assessment.

Massachusetts is one of only eight states left in the country that still requires high school students to pass a standardized test to earn a diploma. It’s time for Massachusetts to end this outdated, draconian barrier to student success. Please vote “yes” on Question 2.

Mike Balulescu
President, Acton Boxborough Education Association

I am an associate member of the Kelley’s Corner Steering Committee, but speaking solely on my own behalf.

In the month of October, I’ve received 3 different survey requests from the Town of Acton.

• October 15,  Piper Road Sidewalk Feasibility Study – Public Input Survey
• October 11, Wayfinding Signage Survey
• October 02, Main Street Complete Street Design Public Input Survey

None of these surveys cited any data or priority or compelling reason for its existence. Addressing each one, they fall into the category of “because we can” since there is no data or study establishing why any of these activities should progress.

Recently, homeowners in Acton received their huge real estate tax increases in their bill. If there is a priority needed, it’s a plan to stabilize or reduce the inordinate tax burden. I have seen no surveys giving the Town an opportunity to express their wishes on budget items to reduce or eliminate that might reduce or stabilize their taxes.

If the Select Board wants a new Department of Public Works building, which will require another override, albeit a debt override, then they and the Town Manager should rapidly establish and communicate a clear set of priorities.

David A. Manalan

A Yes vote on Question 2 would eliminate the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) graduation requirement for tenth graders in Massachusetts. My reasons for supporting this question include: 

MCAS was originally intended to hold schools and teachers accountable for implementing state education standards and to measure their success in doing so. Over the years, this has shifted towards holding students accountable for outcomes but not educators, administrators or school committees responsible for implementing standards and curriculum. 

MCAS was originally intended to be given in grades 5, 8 and 10. No Child Left Behind legislation created the unfunded federal mandate to test all students in grades 3 through 8 and 10. The fact is that measuring the success of our schools could be done via sampling.

The vast majority of AB graduates already take standardized tests – the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT). With 95% of our graduates going on to 2- or 4-year colleges, they are clearly "college ready" upon graduation from AB. What do our students gain from taking these tests?

A successful Yes campaign on this question would not eliminate MCAS testing. But I hope it would open the eyes of parents to the impact of MCAS on students at all levels. My observation as a parent was that weeks every spring were spent prepping for MCAS, not actually educating kids, particularly during elementary years. In fact, once I learned that MCAS is not required for anything other than 10th grade graduation, I started opting my kids out of MCAS. Parents should know this: You do NOT need to submit your kids to MCAS testing. 

Standardized testing has become a cottage industry. Companies make vast sums of money writing and scoring these tests. Through these tests, state and federal governments also collect reams of data on our children and families to do with as they please. Regardless of the outcome of this question, this is something you can control -- starve the beast. 

I cannot justify holding students responsible for their educational outcomes while teachers and administrators have no accountability. That’s why I’m voting YES on Question 2. 

Corinne Hogseth
Associate member of the Acton Finance Committee, writing on my own behalf.

A genuine thank you to the Acton Exchange for communicating such important local and timely information to our community. I am humbled that this is a volunteer organization…. thank you for your service.

My hope is that with continued community support, the Acton Exchange can continue to provide all of Acton’s viewpoints. Communication, an exchange of ideas and viewpoints, and fact-based knowledge is key to our community’s sound decision making on policy issues.

These ideals are what will help Acton thrive to continue to be the place we all call home.

Best,
Paulette Farmer

I am 58 years old, an Air Force veteran, a small business owner, and a longtime Acton resident.  In 1975, I first visited Acton when helping family friends move, and in 1995, I first moved to Acton.  Divorce and remarriage resulted in several moves, and since 2013, Rebecca and I have called 17 Forest Road home.  It's the yellow house with the chainsaw bear out front.

I have been a good neighbor.  A friend who plows for Acton stores his plow in my driveway.  Many vehicles have pulled into my driveway looking for directions to the DPW.  I have only been to the DPW to deliver mail dropped off at my house by mistake.  When my son's large salsa band practices or performs at our house, we inform and invite the neighbors.

The DPW, on the other hand, has not been a good neighbor.  On Forest Road, vehicles speed and fail to move over for pedestrians and pets, and some of the worst offenders are those who work at or fuel up at the DPW.  On hazardous waste day, I was almost struck twice while simply trying to walk our dog.

Robbins Park families, in general, and residents of Hosmer Street and Forest Road, in particular, already bear a disproportionate amount of traffic (especially on "dump day") often speeding at close to twice the posted speed limit.  

The proposed DPW construction project will add additional noise, traffic, and danger for already overburdened Robbins Park families.  So, I believe that much more needs to be done for the residents of Robbins Park before this $1.2M construction project starts.  Such as plans for stop signs, sidewalks, a much shorter than 2-year construction period, and a "vegetative buffer" that actually buffers light and sound.

I have been a good steward of every property that I've ever owned, and I have been a good neighbor everywhere I have lived.  The Town of Acton can - and should - do better.

Erik J. Heels

Although I’m on the Finance Committee, I’m writing on my own behalf.

I attended the Department of Public Works (DPW) Building Committee meeting on Sept. 26, 2024. And I asked a question: How many filed sub bids would be required to build the new DPW building?

The answer was 11 ... or more.

In 1980, I was a legislative aide to then State Senator Sharon Pollard (D-Methuen). She was the Senate Chair of the State Administration Committee, which considered the Ward Commission Report, also known as the Special Commission Concerning State and County Buildings, which issued a report on the state of contracting and oversight practices in the Commonwealth.

The Ward Commission Report found that the reason why public construction was more expensive than construction in the private sector wasn't driven just by waste, fraud, and abuse.

Another contributing factor was the filed sub-bids process, which is used for public building contracts in Massachusetts that are estimated to cost $150,000 or more.

The process involves selecting multiple sub-bidders. Prequalified general contractors choose one sub-bidder for each category of work. Categories include plumbing, electrical, masonry, and elevators.

This means that the DPW facility project in Acton will involve 11 or more different sub-bidders. If they aren’t tightly scheduled and closely supervised by the project manager, then the plumbers sit around waiting for the electricians, who are sitting around waiting for the masons, who are sitting around waiting for the elevator sub-bidder to complete their part of the project.

And time is money.

At the meeting, we were told that Acton's DPW facility project would extend over two years, which would make it harder to keep 11 or more different sub-bidders on schedule. The State has figured this out, which is why big construction projects are compressed into abbreviated time frames to prevent cost over-runs.

Personally, I’m in favor of delaying the DPW facility project for another year or more to avoid the need for a debt exclusion override. But, if it were done, then it is best done quickly.

Greg Jarboe

As a local historian and Thoreau scholar, I have noticed that there is some misinformation Exchange Hall that has been making the rounds for years and I'd like to put it to rest once and for all. It is the idea that Henry David Thoreau once lectured there.

Exchange Hall was built in 1860. Thoreau lectured only seven times that year; three times in Concord, twice in Bedford, once in Lowell and once in Waterbury, Connecticut. The lecture in Waterbury, on December 11, 1860, was actually the last lecture that Thoreau ever delivered; he died less than two years later on May 6, 1862, of tuberculosis.

All of Thoreau's lectures are well documented by the places where he did lecture, usually by town minutes, local newspapers and reviews or personal recollections by people who were in attendance. Sometimes Thoreau himself commented on his lectures, especially if it seemed to go off particularly well, or if it bombed! He never mentioned an Acton lecture in his journal, nor are there any other records indicating that he ever spoke in Acton.

So, the historical record shows that Thoreau never spoke at Exchange Hall. In fact, he only gave 75 lectures in his lifetime, and he never spoke in Acton once! He surveyed in Acton, as well as the Concord/Acton town lines. He walked through the town on his way to Boxboro. He rode the train through Acton on many occasions. And he secretly took one of John Brown's compatriots to the South Acton train station in 1859. But he never lectured in Acton.

I hope that this will set the record straight once and for all. Exchange Hall because it is a wonderful piece of Acton history. The fact that Thoreau never spoke there does not, I hope, diminish its historical value.Richard Smith 

Hello! Thanks for asking the question of what Exchange Hall means to people. I have lived on School Street for 28 years. For the first 10-15 years the paint on that historic building, Exchange Hall, was peeling and it was terribly unsightly. We purchased an antique home that was built in 1854, and were doing our best to renovate it so it could live another 150 years. We love antique buildings and like to see them looking spiffy. Of course, it is expensive and labor intensive to maintain any building. When Exchange Hall received Community Preservation Act funds to re-paint, we were really happy. Now that the building has been sold, our greatest hope is that it will continue to be loved, appreciated and used to its fullest potential. Parking in South Acton Village is not plentiful, unless the commuter lot can be utilized. I hope the new owners thrive in the building and bring joy to the community! Welcome!

Sincerely,
Bettina Abe

I am a lifelong Actonite.  Went to elementary school in South Acton (now fire house) so I walked past the Exchange Hall every school day.  I thought it was huge, but the real history goes back to my Mother’s day.  She also was a lifelong resident and in her early years went dancing there every Saturday night.  Had such fun but had to be home exactly at 10 p.m.!!  Lots of great memories.

Peggy Hebert

October 5th is a special day for our family as we observe Pause for The GFPD, an annual awareness day dedicated to The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders (GFPD). We invite readers of The Acton Exchange to join a fellow A-B family and PAUSE for our son and others affected by peroxisomal disorders across more than 40 countries.

We lost our son, Lincoln Ray Usher, on June 30, 2024, after a courageous battle with PBD-ZSD (peroxisomal biogenesis disorder in the Zellweger spectrum). He was just two years old, one of fewer than 1,000 children worldwide with this rare, terminal disease. Lincoln brought so much love to our lives. His infectious smile and beautiful blue eyes could brighten any room. His laughter was contagious, and his spirit, unbreakable. Though his life was tragically brief, Lincoln taught us to slow down, cherish the small moments, and find joy in each day.

Pause for The GFPD gives our family hope for the future. Founded in 2010 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit supports families affected by peroxisomal disorders and funds crucial medical research. On October 5th, we celebrate the GFPD’s achievements over the past 14 years in advancing research and awareness, while honoring the beautiful children impacted by this rare condition.

This day is not just about raising awareness; it’s a call to action. Together, we can help the GFPD amplify the voices of patients, families, caregivers, scientists, and medical professionals advocating for treatments and cures. Raising public awareness can be transformative—it provides hope and paves the way for groundbreaking research that may lead to new, lifesaving treatments.

Participating in Pause for The GFPD also serves as a comforting reminder that our loved ones are still cherished and remembered. We urge everyone reading this to get involved. Visit the GFPD website at http://www.thegfpd.org or find us on social media @thegfpd to learn how you can help make a difference and discover the vital work being done to support those affected by peroxisomal disorders.

With gratitude,

Jamie & Chris Usher 

I am confused and concerned by the media coverage of EEE [Eastern equine encephalitis] risk from mosquitos in our area. The implication is that we have swarms of mosquitoes locally that are possibly carrying EEE. In fact, this has been a remarkable year for the low incidence of mosquitos. My wife suffers badly from bites and in a normal year cannot venture outside in the evenings while I spend hours chasing errant mosquitos around the house. Not so this year. My observations are not limited to Acton. I travel west to fish and have experienced little mosquito activity as far out as Royalston and Petersham. I have never needed to use repellent while fishing this year. Yet at least one Acton resident has been infected with EEE! Does this mean that the few mosquitos that are around are heavy carriers of the disease? I am interested to know of other observations on this topic. 

Paul White

I'd like to throw a kudo to Christine Lawton for helping me out at Roche Brothers last week by buying my groceries for me when I lost my Debit card. Such a kind and thoughtful thing to do. And then bringing the groceries to my car and loading them and my walker into the back seat. May you thoroughly enjoy that first grandchild, Christine! He/she is lucky to have a grandmother like you.

Marion Maxwell

Two candidates for the Democratic party nomination for Third District Governor’s Councilor appear on the Democratic Ballot for the September 3^rd State Primary Election.  To learn more about these candidates and hear their views and opinions, a coalition of local League of Women Voters chapters throughout the district co-sponsored a forum with the two candidates that was recorded by the Newton Public Access station NewTV.  There is a link to the forum recording on the website of the League of Women Voters Acton Area website, under the heading "Get Ready for 2024 Elections."

Ballots are currently available for voters who choose to vote by mail.  Contact the Town Clerk’s office for assistance in requesting a ballot before the August deadline. For in person voting, polls are open on election day, September 3 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Marilyn Peterson and Lori Cooney, LWV Acton Area Executive Committee

I live close to NARA park.  Every day that I walk there, I am reminded how things change season to season, day to day, and minute to minute.  The sounds of nature, children splashing in the pond, a jogger passing, the whirl of a bike spinning by, and the chatter of a person on their cellphone catching up on business. (I hope they smell the roses between calls.) All celebrate life. 

What does this have to do with ‘On your left’?  Well, about half of the walk path around NARA pond is shared with the Bruce Freeman Rail trail. This means the path is shared with bikes (I love to bike), some skaters, and the occasional skateboarders. A few of the rules for rail trails go something like:

• Bicyclists and skaters yield to pedestrians
• Keep right and pass on the left, using an audible signal and looking before passing

As I ride and walk the trails, I hear bikers using bells, and also hear them loudly proclaim “On your left”.  I love this idea.  If I am walking and someone yells ‘on your left’, I know a bike is coming thus avoiding that sudden nasty adrenalin rush that happens when a bike zooms by without warning.  The biker is safe, I am safe. Ahh a good day.

Unfortunately, I have observed bikers not giving any notification as they pass within feet of a walker, risking the safety of both.  I recently saw skateboarders riding three abreast on the left-hand side of the trail (wrong side). It took my breath away as a bike suddenly appeared (heading toward them) and a collision was barely avoided.  The skateboarder frantically leaped from his board kicking it off to the side.   

If you know someone who walks or rides near NARA pond, can you share the rules with them? Please mention bikers say ‘on your left’ to help keep everyone safe and how simple words (or sounds) can help walkers and riders both enjoy the day.

Be kind to your fellow travelers. 

Deb Jeffries

I’d like to thank Sarah Peng for her July 5^th report about Alison Mammola who was honored at Acton Town Hall for saving 5-year-old kid from drowning.

Alison is one of lifeguards at our community pool this summer. I am a frequent swimmer at the pool, so I have had several interactions with her. 

One day, my husband and I went to the pool to swim. I saw Alison sitting under an umbrella and reading a book before we entered the pool area. We were the only people at the pool. When we walked into the water, she immediately climbed up the lifeguard chair. It was a very hot sunny day. There was no umbrella over the lifeguard chair. I told her that we are good swimmers and that she doesn’t have to watch us. She thanked me and said “I am a lifeguard and I am on duty.”  She sat in the chair under the sun and watched us swim until we left the pool.

After this interaction with Alison, I was very impressed by her dedication, self-discipline and seriousness to her responsibility. Her action showed her characters and hard-working spirit! She deserves the recognition and honor for her dedication and her courageous act. 

Susan Yan

With reference to Lifeguard saves five-year old, wins honors:

Congratulations to Alison Mammola for putting her Red Cross lifeguard training into action and saving a drowning and not breathing 5-year-old Acton boy.  

The Red Cross teaches lifeguards to act selflessly to save lives.  Upon recognizing the emergency, Alison immediately entered the water, performed the appropriate rescue, removed the child from the water, performed CPR until signs of life were visible, and stayed with the child through EMS actions.  Postcard-perfect actions in accordance with her Red Cross training.  Equally as important was that Alison maintained her composure throughout the emergency, only pausing to reflect on the magnitude of her efforts after EMS arrived and took over for Alison.  

Red Cross lifeguard training is vigorous, and as Alison states in the Acton Exchange article, she is due for recertification later this summer.  Recertification classes are equally as important as initial lifeguard classes to keep lifeguards sharp and able to act instinctively each time that they are called into Acton.  Congratulations, Alison.

Carolyn Kiely and Wendy Hammond-Wildes, Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors with The Thoreau Club

Editors' Note: Carolyn Kiely contributed to the editing of this article.

Various town functions address pieces of the affordable housing issue, but almost all of the proposals require a major development effort, hard to obtain at today's interest rates. The state’s strategies to drive down prices and increase supply fall broadly into two categories: reduce the local zoning barriers to multifamily housing that created the shortage in the first place and subsidize housing that’s restricted to low-income people.

A third strategy would be using mobile homes and pre-manufactured homes. We would need zoning changes and a plan, but the town could be the developer. The following information comes from a Boston Globe editorial of December 30, 2023, A manufactured solution to a manufactured problem (link provides access for subscribers only.)

Trailer parks have a bad reputation. But they could help the state overcome the housing shortage that has resulted from the Commonwealth’s long history of exclusionary local zoning. Mike Zupkofska, a former Rockland selectman, is very much aware of the stigma associated with mobile or manufactured homes. Most people would imagine a shady, dirty trailer park. In reality, his mobile home in Leisurewoods in Rockland, MA, is one of the roughly 250 mobile home parks in the state is nothing like that. It’s an age 55-and-older community that looks like a regular suburban gated development. Massachusetts could use more of those communities. The state needs housing — a lot more housing, traditional and nontraditional. And it needs housing that people can afford.

The prices for homes in mobile home communities in Massachusetts are breathtaking — in a good way. At Leisurewoods, a 980-square-foot, 2-bed, 1-bath home is on the market for $249,900. Maybe Acton can have timely appealing, accessible, and affordable housing by creating a mobile home park like Leisurewoods.

David A. Manalan

Although I’m on the Finance Committee, I’m writing on my own behalf.

Acton voters narrowly approved an “override” of the tax levy limit. Out of 6,406 votes cast in the Annual Town Election, 3,205 were “Yes” (50.03%), 3,160 were “No” (49.33%), and 41 were blank.

So, the Town of Acton and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District both presented an "A" budget (painful cuts even with an override) at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting, but we came within 45 votes of presenting a "B" budget (harmful cuts without an override).

To avoid “the road not taken” next year, we’re taking four important steps.

Goal setting: The Select Board will begin the goal setting process at their next meeting on June 17. Asking the public for input is the right place to start. You can participate by sending your comments via email to sb@actonma.gov or attending the public listening session in person or virtually.

Managing expenses: The School Committee will be examining the district's elementary structures and spending to cost effectively run and manage all six existing elementary schools, even as dollars get tight and enrollment declines.  The goal is to ensure that each dollar has the maximum impact on student outcomes, that staff have fair and equitable workloads, and that investments are in line with district priorities and best practices.

Cost cutting: The Finance Committee is discussing ideas for Cost Cutting. I’ve recommended tackling a different question first: Which metrics should we use to measure the cost-effectiveness of different types of budgets? Defining our key performance indicators (KPIs) will enable us to make judgements that don’t seem arbitrary or capricious.

Economic development: To help alleviate the residential property tax burden, we can’t just sit and wait for businesses to come here. That’s why the town’s Economic Development Office applied for and has received a Community Planning Grant of $90,000 from the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to create Acton’s first Economic Development Strategic Plan.

These four steps will help us stay on the right path going forward, but we need your help.

Greg Jarboe

Please consider attending the Boston Asian International Music Festival, which will be coming to the NARA Park Amphitheater in Acton on June 8, from 5-8pm.   Admission is free.  Many local performers and professional musicians will participate in the festival, demonstrating a variety of Asian cultural music forms.  For a preview of the performers, see this video, or the photo enclosed. 

Kaiping Fu

Board Member of the Acton Chinese American Civic Association, event organizer

In the month since Acton’s Annual Town Meeting, I have heard from voters directly and seen comments, including in this publication, about the experience and reflected on those and the meeting itself.  I am proud and grateful that the voters came together to express their thoughts and desires calmly and respectfully.  Despite the challenges of such a large turnout, the prevailing attitude was patience and understanding that people were doing their best. 

I am proud and grateful that our town and school staff organized the logistics to allow the meeting to run smoothly and efficiently.  I am thankful that ActonTV supports our democratic process by assisting article presenters with videos that voters can view before the meeting, and then streaming the meeting for viewers at home or to review later. 

Access to the meeting is not universal, but it has improved.  Rides are available to and from the meeting; seating is reserved for those with mobility issues; the Zoom option is available for those unable to participate due to physical disability (a recent innovation); real-time captioning helps those unable to hear and anyone who processes information better visually; the clickers enable those who can’t raise their hands or their voices, as well as those who want to vote privately. The meeting time is an obstacle for some, but based on surveys taken over the years, a weekend-day meeting would result in a similar number of participants. No time is the best time for everyone.

Our town government works because of the efforts of volunteers, including the Finance Committee.  Part of the job of the Moderator is to appoint FinCom.  At this time there are openings for associate and full members.  If you want to learn more about serving on this committee, please contact me at Moderator@acton-ma.gov.

Jo-Ann Berry

Town Moderator

The Friends of the Council on Aging is currently accepting donations for our jewelry sale, to be held on Wednesday, October 16th at the Acton Senior Center.  All types of jewelry are welcome (new, old, vintage, you name it!). Please leave your donations at the front desk of the Acton Senior Center, 30 Sudbury Road Rear, Acton MA. The jewelry we collect will be sold at the jewelry sale, with proceeds used to fund programs and events at the Acton Senior Center.

Susan Tripathy

My thanks to the Town workers and volunteers for ensuring a smooth and accurate election and recount.

The recount of the budget override vote, demanded by the opposition, confirmed our election's integrity. The override passed with a plurality, a 37-vote margin with 45 blank ballots. After the recount, we now have an outright majority: 50.03% Yes to 49.33% No, a 45-vote margin with only 41 blanks. The decisive 72% vote for the School Budget at Town Meeting the following week solidified the mandate to properly fund the needs of our town and schools after the slim majority on the override.

Though it sounds close, 37 votes is too large a margin for a recount. By 2004, scanners like ours were already 99.05% accurate. That increased to 99.85% by 2011 and 99.87% by 2016. In 2024, Acton's machines reached 99.94% accuracy. Of the 6,390 votes scanned on election night, four marked blank by the machine were discernible by human counters, with only one of those disputed.

Rather than scanners, human errors always account for most discrepancies. Seventeen ballots from Precinct 6A skipped the scanner. I speculate that they were mail-in votes meant to be scanned but placed directly into the box unscanned by mistake. The Clerk’s Office is investigating. An error in the Precinct 1 hand recount shorted the “No” count by one, resulting in the discrepancy between the 44-vote margin posted on social media on Tuesday and the official 45-vote margin. Both errors were far too small to alter the result.

Including the 17 found ballots, the one lost ballot, and the four changed ballots, 22 ballots were impacted by the recount, with a net increase of eight votes in favor of the override. Including human error, the election was 99.66% accurate. Despite a close margin, a recount was unnecessary. A machine recount, hand-counting only the 45 votes marked blank, would have been cheaper and equally effective, though still unneeded. Instead, at a time when we are all concerned about the Town budget, we wasted $10,000 recounting by hand.

Samuel Sullivan-Fieldman
Volunteer, Together for Acton. Served as Representative for the pro side at the recount. Writing in my personal capacity, not on behalf of Together for Acton.

I was so happy that the Middlesex and Worcester Senior Conference returned on April 18th at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, with 300+ seniors from across the district in attendance. Seniors who attended the conference had access to a multitude of workshops, health screenings, information tables, yoga, Zumba, an art workshop, and of course, our raffle prizes! They also enjoyed a complimentary breakfast and lunch and performances by local Marlborough band ‘The Romeos Duo’, and my friends, pianists April Feng and Fumika Mizuno.

I am deeply grateful to the Assabet Valley Superintendent, principal, and students for their warm welcome and support to the seniors at the conference. I also want to thank our corporate sponsors: Point32Health, Ken’s Dressings and Sauces, Christopher Heights, Walmart, MetroWest Medical Center, New Horizons, Fallon Health, Cooperative Credit Unions, Boston Scientific, Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, Avidia Bank, Durand Anastas Environmental Strategies, and Whittier Rehab. I appreciate the incredible vendors who offered valuable information to the attending seniors and the companies and agencies who provided raffle prizes.

Thank you once again for attending this wonderful event. I hope you can join us next year for the 44th Annual Senior Conference. If you have ideas for new sessions, programming, or entertainment, please be in touch with my office at James.Eldridge@MaSenate.Gov

James B. Eldridge
State Senator for Middlesex & Worcester District, representing Acton and nearby towns

In the April 30 Override vote, half the Town voters were either unable or unwilling to pay the tax override which passed by 37 votes.  This was after an all-stops-out campaign for the Override and sparse campaigning against the Override.  Grave attention needs to be paid as to whether Acton citizens cannot or do not want to support a “world class education” for students at their expense.

Marion Maxwell

My First Acton Town Meeting.  I attended my first Acton Town Meeting on Monday night May 6th.  My impression of the proceedings is distinctly one of disappointment.  Clearly, the town meeting format fundamentally disenfranchises seniors and those with mobility issues from participating, thereby leaving the remaining participants largely biased to one point of view.  Supposedly, there was a way to join the meeting via Zoom, but that was not well publicized (intentionally?), and it may not have been possible to vote in any case.   The evidence is clear – the town election produced a near 50-50 split on the override question, yet the vote at Town Meeting was closer to 75-25.  It’s time to do away with this antiquated form of governance and for Acton to incorporate as a city so all of its citizens can be counted.

And for all of those who orchestrated this travesty of democracy - particularly town officials - you should be ashamed.

Bradford Milnes

Sure, we all cherish the quaint open town meeting that permits any citizen to vote on any issue. It worked well for Acton from colonial times to the 1970s. when we had 4,000 citizens. But we now have 26,000 citizens. 

But there is a better way. The representative form of town meeting brings together committed and well-informed citizens, elected by a neighborhood vote. These “Town Meeting Members” spend the time to be acquainted with all the complex issues that now face a town like Acton.

The size of the crowd, the limitations of space, and the domination of the meeting when a special interest group attempts to “railroad” its agenda can be gracefully avoided.  Local government can work better than it does now. The May 6 Acton Town Meeting clearly demonstrates that it is time to consider representative town meeting.

Become informed! Read the brief, informative comparison of various forms of town government in Massachusetts: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/cis/download/Guide_to_Town_Meetings.pdf

The following Massachusetts towns have chosen better government with choosing representative town meeting:

• Adams
• Arlington
• Auburn
• Belmont
• Billerica
• Brookline
• Burlington
• Chelmsford
• Danvers
• Dartmouth
• Dedham
• Fairhaven
• Falmouth
• Holbrook
• Lee
• Lexington
• Ludlow
• Milford
• Milton
• Montague
• Natick
• Needham
• Norwood
• Plymouth
• Reading
• Saugus
• Shrewsbury
• South Hadley
• Stoughton
• Swampscott
• Walpole
• Wellesley
• Winchester

Ralph Abbott

Thank you for Kim Kastens' thorough article on April 27 (Concord Town Meeting Warrant Requests Funding for Nagog Pond Water Treatment Plant) on Concord's proposed changes to Nagog Pond, its water treatment facility and their being evasive regarding how much water they may draw on a daily basis vs. the estimate of the U.S. Geological Survey.  In addition, her article explains the risk to Acton businesses and residents along Great Road which are currently being serviced by Concord.

Hopefully, after Acton's Town Meeting this week, Acton residents will have more time to focus on this issue.

Neal Fishman

In 2022, our family moved to the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD), due to the reputable, excellent education and extensive programs that ABRSD provides. We saw how an excellent school district retains and raises property values. Conversely, the opposite happens when school districts’ quality slips, leading to a cycle of lowered property values.

As a family who believes strongly in world language learning, we thought that our children would thrive at ABRSD with its outstanding, diverse world language programs and educators, as they were learning Chinese, French, and Latin at the time. The shocking news that the Chinese and Latin programs would be eliminated, if the override does not pass, concern us enormously because their elimination will greatly diminish the quality and reputation of ABRSD. At this important juncture in history, where critical languages identified by the US State Department are deemed vital to national security and business interests, it is unwise to lose any of our world language programs.

Additionally, the Acton-Boxborough community is demographically represented as 30% Asian. To keep the Chinese program reinforces the message that Asian representation matters. Since 2015, the Asian enrollment at ABRSD rose from 26.1% to 37.8% in 2023; the number of students (who are not of only Chinese descent) enrolled in the Chinese program has been consistent, whilst the number of students enrolled in French and Spanish has been decreasing.

It is imperative to keep Chinese and Latin classes available to provide all students the opportunity to learn critical languages vitally impactful to our community and nation, especially since the enrollment numbers indicate that there is no lack of interest in learning Chinese and Latin. Just as Chinese is a foundational language in Eastern civilization, Latin is a foundational language in Western civilization.  For students interested in the humanities and sciences, even a passing acquaintance with Latin gives deeper insight into the subjects they are studying. 

We believe that an excellent ABRSD preserves and advances our community’s educational and property values. Therefore, please vote yes for the override.

Thank you.

Matthew and Alethea Tan

There has been a lot of conflicting information regarding the upcoming override vote on election day, and potentially, at town meeting, if it succeeds at the ballot box.  This letter is to help lend some clarity on why I am urging people to vote “no.”

Most of what is driving this operational override is the A/B school district.  What seemed to have been the tipping point that changed the Superintendent’s message in early October 2023 indicating that he didn’t think we would need an override, too late in October 2023 when he was talking about a $7MM shortfall?  This later escalated to $9.5MM and then $9.8MM for a “level service” budget.  What!!!???

Okay, a little analysis:  Using numbers from the Department of Education and Secondary Education (DESE), over the past ten years, the school population has fallen by 10% (it was 5,658 in 2014/15 and 5,099 in 23/24 – a drop of 559 students).  During that same timeline, the teaching staff increased by 10%! (362 in 14/15 and 396.8 in 23/24 – an increase of 34.8 teachers).  Now I didn’t have a fancy A/B education growing up but, by my math, 5,099 students divided by 396.8 teachers equals 12.85 students per class!!!  That’s private school kind of numbers!

Now, the counter argument I’m hearing is “There’s been a great increase in Special Ed. And English Language Learners (E.L.L.) over that time.”  Well, let’s look at that.  Special Ed. had 34.7 teachers in 14/15, and 56.3 in 23/24 (21.6 additional teachers, or a 62% increase over the ten years) and for E.L.L., there were 3.7 Full Time Equivalent (FTE’s) in 14/15 and 14 in 23/24, an increase of 10.3 or a 278 percent increase!  So, they seem to be adding what they need in these categories.

Now they are saying that the “B” budget will require them to lay off 80 teachers and create enormous class sizes.  Let’s check: 396.8 minus 80 equals 316.8.  With 5,099 students the math says that the class sizes will be approximately 16 students per class.  Seems manageable to me.  Just say no.

Mike Gowing

Please join me in voting YES to support the override in the Acton Town Election April 30, and vote YES on the town and school budgets at the Acton Town Meeting on May 6.  

We moved to Acton 23 years ago, drawn in large part by the highly rated school system.  I started teaching at the high school 17 years ago.  Our three children experienced wonderful, dedicated teachers, engaging and thought-provoking courses and access to challenging athletic programs.  All three have since graduated from the district (K-12 for each) and were well equipped to succeed in college and future endeavors.

We have enjoyed our town libraries and attended events at NARA. We spent many hours in the Acton Arboretum with our dog, Daisy.  Any and all interactions with town staff, police and firefighters are always positive.  The town is an amazing place to live and work.   I am supporting the override to preserve what I love.

Budget cuts have already occurred over the past several years and more reductions are in store even if the override passes.  Additional layoffs and elimination of some services will occur should the override fail.  Please visit both the town and school district websites for further information on how your property taxes will be affected and what possible cuts would mean for our town and school district.

Elizabeth Parker
ABRHS Science Teacher

Why I am Against the Proposed Override.  The Acton school administrators have shown poor fiscal responsibility in managing the taxpayers’ funds.  Now they want the taxpayers to hand over an additional $6.6 million dollars to cover their fiscal mismanagement.  $1.2 million of that isn’t even needed this year!  And they have shown little willingness to compromise.  The citizens of Acton need to send a clear message that we will not be held responsible for their mistakes.  Vote NO on the override.  Ask yourself: Can you afford an extra $100 per month? 

Bradford Milnes 

There is a $6.6M override on the ballot next Tuesday, April 30. Keep Acton Affordable has been working to combat the narrative that this override is necessary due to extraordinary events and inflation. 

The fact is this override is driven by the refusal by the School Committee to address a steep and steady decline in school enrollment over the last 15 years, down from a high of nearly 6,000 students in 2009 to 5,100 in 2024. They have been aided and abetted by the Select Board and Finance Committee, who rather than working on behalf of all residents, function as de facto School Committee members, caving into their demands year after year. 

Declining enrollment and increasing budgets can mean only one thing: rapidly increasing per pupil expenditures. Over the last 10 years, cumulative inflation has been 32%. But the cumulative increase in per pupil spending is a whopping 67%. This is clearly not sustainable. 

Proponents of the override insist there should be no correlation between enrollment and budgets, because “education has changed.” Know what else has changed? – aging! People are living longer and will face greater medical and long-term care expenses as they age. I’ve heard from several residents that they are worried about being forced to leave their home of many decades. 

Yes, inflation has been high. This has created hardship for many families, particularly seniors, in our community. And yes, there were unforeseen expenses last fall, primarily some very large health insurance claims. Out-of-district tuition for some high-needs students increased by 14%, but this was known in October 2022, so shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Had reserves been responsibly managed by the Acton Health Insurance Trust and the school district, reserve balances would have covered those unanticipated bills.  

The School Committee and the Select Board want us to trust them with another $6.6M of our tax dollars, despite the fact that they have not given any indication that they’ll change their ways. 

Election Day is next Tuesday, April 30. Please vote NO on this override!

Corinne Hogseth

Although I was appointed to the Acton Finance Committee on Jan. 23, 2024, the views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire committee. In fact, I shared the same facts and analysis in an article entitled, “Acton Facing Prop 2 1/2 Operational Override Vote,” which The Acton Exchange published on Jan. 17, 2024.

Back then, I reported that David Martin, a member of the Select Board, recommended cutting the Town’s budget by $1 million less than a level-services budget as well as cutting the School’s budget by $2 million less than a level-services budget.

Martin said, “These would be painful, but not harmful, cuts.”

Tori Campbell, a member of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee, said, “David’s proposal is a good starting point.” But to show people the choice they were facing, she said, they need to also know what would be cut in the “B” budget.

Campbell also shared some research she’d conducted on school quality and home value. She said, “Since regionalization in 2015, our district has consistently been among the top in the state…And all this as a per-pupil spending rate that is near or below the state average. Our schools are efficient, and they make a difference in our students’ lives.”

And at the end of the article, I wrote, “Acton held nine Proposition 2 1/2 override votes between 1989 and 2005, however, there hasn’t been one in 19 years. The overrides passed in 1989, 1990, and 1991, failed in 1993 (twice), 1994, and 1999, and passed in 2003 and 2005.”

I added, “Many of the previous override votes were close, and this year is not likely to be an exception. The outcome could go either way.”

So, your vote is needed on the override April 30 in the Annual Town Election and again on the school and town budgets May 6 at the Annual Town Meeting. As I wrote three months ago, this “promises to be one of the most consequential local elections in a generation.”

Greg Jarboe

If the proposed tax override in Acton fails, the town and the school district will move forward with budget Plan B. Disaster is not imminent.

Town Manager John Mangiaratti and Fire Chief Anita Arnum confirmed on April 12 that no police officer and no firefighter will be laid off. The Town would just not fill new positions: a second social worker at the police department and a mid-day EMS worker at the fire department.

The school district will combine some classes. Many parents are worried about this, but children are more resilient and flexible than adults. Children will accept and adapt to an additional 1-5 students joining their classrooms, and class size will continue to be manageable for teachers because the numbers will simply hover around the State’s suggested, but not required, class size of 22.

Parents might worry about the possibility of their children’s class moving to a different school building, but the children and their classmates will simply go along with the change and adapt to their new circumstances. 

Children who come from families where education is valued tend to do well in school. The fact that so many parents move to Acton for the great education in our public schools indicates that our students are receiving support and encouragement at home, and teachers know that parents are watching. Parental expectation of a great education for their children will continue to drive success in our school district. 

Joan Milnes

As a concerned parent in our community, I am writing to express my strong support for overriding the decision to cut the Chinese language program in our schools. With a significant portion of our student body being of Chinese descent, it is crucial that we maintain and enhance this valuable educational offering. 

Learning Chinese not only connects these students with their heritage but also provides them with a competitive edge in an increasingly globalized world. China's economic and political influence continues to grow, and proficiency in Mandarin will open doors for our children in their future careers. Moreover, language education has been shown to improve cognitive skills, creativity, and academic performance across all subjects. Cutting the Chinese program would be a disservice to all of our students, regardless of their background. We must prioritize the long-term benefits of language education over short-term financial concerns. Our children deserve a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in the 21st century. 

I urge our school board and community members to come together and find a way to preserve this essential program. Our students' futures depend on it. 

Sincerely, 
Gabe Sater

I like being able to finally see local news. Could the publication date be part of the masthead?

David A. Manalan 

The Acton Exchange website is impressive. Congratulations to all on an ongoing great job!

Sarah Coletti

I read The Acton Exchange for the first time this evening.  Very professional and easy to navigate.  I will recommend it to my family and friends.

Ricky Ann Bauer

Letter:  Override Thoughts from a Teacher Whose Job is at Risk

My name is Tim Ryan, and I am a math teacher at R.J. Grey.  I'm new to the district this year and have been grateful to be welcomed by students, families, and colleagues at the school and districtwide. I love it here and I would love to spend the rest of my career here.  But I am writing because, due to the fact that I'm the most recent hire in my department, my job is at risk.

A website opposing the override says it is "probably fearmongering" to say that more than 60 teachers will be laid off.  I just want everyone to know that the job cuts being discussed are not theoretical.  If the override vote is unsuccessful, I will be let go from my position.  My principal informed me of this in a one-one-one meeting in January and confirmed it to still be the case a few weeks ago.  Colleagues have had similar meetings and received similar news.  These sort of "conditional pink slips," if you will, have already been issued.

There are dozens of other teachers across the district who are in the position of losing their job if the override doesn't succeed.  Please vote "Yes" to keep those teachers, their talent, and their dedication to their students in the district. Teachers around the state know A-B is a great school system; it has long been a place where any teacher would love to work.  Please vote "Yes" so the district can remain that way and can continue to attract the best teachers year after year.  Generations of A-B students have benefitted from being in a district that valued their educational experience and took steps to ensure the very best educators were there to provide it.  Don't future A-B students deserve the same?

Tim Ryan
RJ Grey 7th Grade Math Teacher

Acton leadership suggests they are submitting level service budgets – not true. They also are not submitting level funding budgets by a long stretch. FY25 budget spending is $123.5M vs $113.5M expected for FY24 – an increase of $10.0M or 8.8%. All budgets are increasing:    Town up     5.1%   -   ABRSD up 10.8%   -  Minuteman up 7.4% - Capital additions for the town up 128.6% - Overall up 8.8%.

Additionally, an article requesting $6.6M of capital additions (outside the budget) to be bonded as well as an article for approval of CPA capital improvements will be voted at town meeting. CPA is tacked on to your property tax bill at the rate of 1 ¼ % and has been for many years.

The overall budget is well above inflation and presents an alarming trend. Shortfalls of past years have been covered by use of reserves ($2.1M in the FY25 budget) which are now fairly well depleted and are likely to be gone by FY27 if costs are not reduced.  We hear a great deal about layoffs, but the budgets keep growing year over year. Something doesn’t quite add up.

An override grants to the town the right to tax over and above Prop 2 ½ in whichever years leadership sees a need. Prop 2 ½ became State law in 1980 as an effort to combat runaway budgets and allows Acton roughly 3% annual budget growth along with an override process. The override request on the April 30 ballot is for $6.6M of which $5.4M will go to partially cover the $10M spending increase of FY25. Many Acton residents must live within their means and should expect no less from Acton leadership.

I urge residents to get out to vote on April 30. Those with mobility issues can request an absentee ballot from the Town Clerk at 978-929-6620 or e-mail to clerk@actonma.gov. Time to request an absentee ballot is running short – the request must be made before April 23. This is your opportunity to vote for or against the override and the article will carry on a simple majority vote.  

Bob Hertz

Editor’s note:  Although the vote by mail application deadline has passed, voters may still go into the Town Clerk’s office to vote in person up until 12:00 noon on April 29, 2024, the day before the election.

Letter:  Support our Schools for the Benefit of Our Town (Override)

As a Spanish teacher in Acton deeply invested in the educational success of my students, I am reaching out to emphasize the critical importance of the upcoming tax override vote for our town’s school district. This decision will have significant repercussions not only on the diversity of programs available to our students but also on the broader community and its future. The proposed cuts that will come without the approval of this override include the discontinuation of essential language programs such as Chinese and Latin and up to 60 teachers. 

The removal of these programs will not only impact my position as a Spanish teacher but will also drastically reduce the linguistic and cultural learning opportunities for our students, which are crucial in today’s interconnected world.

It’s important to note that quality education is a key driver of community value. Even those without direct ties to our schools should consider the wider economic implications, including potential impacts on property values. Good schools attract families and investment, and conversely, the lack of funding can lead to a decline in desirability and economic health of the area. 

The cost of supporting this override is not easy but is modest compared to the benefits it will preserve. For less than the cost of a daily coffee, we can avoid severe educational cutbacks that threaten to erode the quality of education and diminish our town’s appeal to current and prospective residents. 

I urge everyone in our community to view this tax override as a necessary investment in our children’s future and the overall vitality of the town. Voting “yes” is a step toward ensuring that our educational system remains robust and competitive. 

Let us all show our commitment to maintaining excellence in education and stability in our community. Thank you for your support.  

Sincerely, 
Timothy Chávez

Please join me in voting YES for the operating override on April 30. While my service as a Select Board member informs my perspective, the views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the entire board. To safeguard the services residents have come to expect, we must reset the base of the tax levy to catch up on the rising costs. The Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee all endorse the assessment of an additional $6.6 million in taxes to fund the operating budgets of the public schools and municipal government. 

The town’s calculator will show the impact on your household taxes. The recommended budgets rely on a portion of the override amount in FY25, $5.4 million. These budgets represent approximately $5 million in cuts from the level services of FY24 due to dramatic cost increases to health insurance, special education, and transportation. 25 positions have been cut from the school budget and 7 from the town budget. 

If the override fails, 85 positions from the schools and 10 from the town will need to be eliminated. This would mean the loss of classroom sections and the transfer of ~200 elementary students to different schools.  Class sizes and student: teacher ratios would increase above recommended guidelines. The Memorial Library would no longer be open on Sundays. The town would need to eliminate special events like July 4, Hazardous Waste Day, and flu clinics. 2 per diem positions would be eliminated from Nursing Services. There would be reduced funding available for maintenance at the arboretum, rail trails, and parks, as well as for small engineering studies and road repairs. The town would see a full-time clinician in the Police Dept reduced to part-time, and the loss of the impact shift to support the Fire Department. 

Both the town and schools have managed spending responsibly, within the constraints of Prop 2.5, for decades. Staff have brought in millions of competitive grant funding, reorganized departments, shared staff, and more, to creatively resolve budget challenges. It's time to support the work that's done on our behalf.

Alissa Nicol

There are many reasons to reject this override. First and foremost, the inverse correlation between school enrollment and spending is a sign that our money is not being spent wisely. Excess teacher and administrative headcount should have been gradually reduced, principally by attrition. 

Average salary increases through collective bargaining have been running ahead of inflation for a long time. That is not  sustainable and has caused us to deplete our reserves. This is true for both the Town and schools. 

The schools have lost focus. Instead of a basic education combined with a healthy dose of physical fitness, they have instead focused on non-educational, ideological, and activist doctrines and wasted money and resources. The same is true of the Town, but at a smaller dollar amount. A portion of the reduced enrollment is due to parents removing their kids from such toxic educational programs, and instead moving them to private, Catholic, or home schools. 

Note that their scare tactics involve cutting the most important and useful positions, and not the least important and unnecessary. This tells us that fiscal responsibility is not their highest priority. 

The school Superintendent actually identified several structural changes that will need to be made if the override fails. Some of us had suggested those very same changes in emails to the school committee, but wanted those changes made BEFORE consideration of an override. If the override passes, those changes will not be made, and there will be no incentive for fiscal discipline. Public memory is short, and they will come back for more and use the same scare tactics. 

If the schools make those structural changes first, they will gain my trust, especially if inflation remains stubbornly above 3%, and they will need to override Prop 2 1/2 at some point. But since they have not made those changes yet, we should force them by voting NO on April 30.

Nijan Datar

As an Acton-Boxborough educator and member of the Acton Boxborough Education Association (ABEA), I have had many conversations with my colleagues about the override. I will be the first to admit that back in December I, like many members of the community, naively assumed that the catastrophic FY25 budget deficit was due to mismanaged funds or overeager spending.

However, what I quickly came to understand is that the system we have in place in Massachusetts for funding public schools has not shifted with the increased legislation and requirements the state has for schools. As an elementary educator and licensed special educator in the district, I have seen firsthand since 2019 how student needs have increased while our budget has decreased. Teachers have been stretched thin, being asked to do more each year with fewer resources. Students are more aware of these challenges than families may think.

Teacher burnout rates are higher than ever before nationwide, with k-12 educators having the highest burnout rate of any profession currently in the United States. If the override does not pass, I fear for the health and well-being of our educators and subsequently the students in our community.

This override is not asking taxpayers for money for our schools to fund anything “extra.” In fact, the override will still leave the district in a budget deficit and lead to a reduction in essential staff. This is after two consecutive years of budget cuts, which have already led to a reduction of 40 positions district-wide. If the override does not pass, our school district will need to lay off more than 80 staff members, including more than 60 teachers. This would fundamentally change how our schools operate and how students are able to learn.

An override is necessary to keep our schools functional for both students and staff. Our community deserves a public school system where students and educators can be successful, and that is only possible with an override.

If you believe in the importance of public education, please vote YES on the override on April 30 and again on May 6.

A Tippett
Acton-Boxborough Educator
ABEA Member

Many would consider me an energetic optimist. I do believe difficult problems can be solved by studying the issues, thinking through various solutions and mutually collaborating.  Clearly education, and a sheltering and solid community allows us to be able to solve problems in this way. Equally clear is the fact that we are just beginning to see the emerging mountain of challenge that lies ahead.  Climate change, environmental stress, pandemics, and worldwide political chaos will test our skills to find rational solutions more than ever before.   Now is the time to build and strengthen our Schools and Community and not undermine them. Schools and community are the tools that will allow us and our children to work through the difficulties ahead.  In addition to supporting the override there is also a wonderful opportunity to serve on the many town committees, attend public forums, study the issues that are abundantly emerging and, above all, enjoy the privilege your education and shelter is giving to us all, the ability to solve problems and do our part in maintaining a productive life and sustainable community. 

Patrick Hearn

We’re confident that other letters to the editor will provide reasons to vote YES to support the override in the Acton Town Election on April 30, and vote YES on the town and school budgets at Acton Town Meeting on May 6.  

But trust is also on the ballot, and we’d like to address this important issue.

Our friends and neighbors, who serve our community as elected members of the Select Board and School Committee or as appointed members of the Finance Committee, have spent long hours wrestling with the need for Acton’s first override vote in 19 years. And they:  agreed early on that Acton needed an override. And other many other communities in Massachusetts are also in the same financial position and trying to pass an override this spring.

• found that funding the current level of services was not a viable option. So, even if the override passes, there will still be painful cuts to the town and school’s budgets.
• understood that health insurance cost increases were one of the biggest drivers of the need for an override. So, the town and school district signed an agreement with all our local unions to dissolve the Acton Health Insurance Trust (HIT) and join the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) starting on July 1, 2024. 
• recognized that we don’t want to find ourselves in the same position next year. So, they agree that the “A” budget, which goes into effect if the override passes, uses only $5.4 million of the $6.6 million allowed in Fiscal Year 2025. In other words, it’s an authorization, not an appropriation.

Much of this is not widely known because we no longer have a weekly newspaper.  Fortunately, the advent of The Acton Exchange seeks to fill that void and provide us with the local news source.  

We are seniors who lived here for decades, and the schools brought us here. Our children graduated years ago but benefitted from the quality of Acton’s educational system. It’s time to pay it forward and educate the next generation. 

Bob and Deena Ferrara

Like many Acton homeowners, it is difficult to consider voting for an override on the town ballot and at Town Meeting - especially with an already-looming quarterly tax bill. However, it is clear that voting for the override is the right thing to do; the pride we take in the quality of our schools depends on it.

We moved to Acton in 1973, when I was hired as a teacher at ABRHS, and we quickly learned how lucky we were to live in a town that took such pride in its history, town government and schools. The community support for the schools was especially important to me as a new teacher and became even more relevant once our children reached school age. My own work was rewarding because of supportive colleagues, administrators, school committee members and parents; and I was grateful for the dedication and attention I saw from our children’s teachers from kindergarten through high school graduation.

I was fortunate to have retired well before the pandemic, but it is clear that the period presented unique challenges for students, parents and especially schoolteachers and staff. As we’ve come to expect, everyone stepped up to meet the challenges, but it is also clear that the pandemic left gaps. Over the past few years, we’ve leaned heavily on the energy and adaptability of teachers and staff - now they need our town’s help to close the gaps, especially with the end of pandemic era relief grants.

So, in spite of the upcoming tax bill, I will happily vote for the override to provide this town with the finances it needs to maintain an excellent school system. It is my way of saying thank you to a town and school system that supported me and my family - surely the right thing to do.

Sincerely,
Frances Hearn

The new web site design offers clear categories and a clean design.  It is easy to read and visually appealing.  I will be checking for new stories and updates more frequently - especially as we enter town election season and town meetings.   Thank you for your commitment to Acton news.  

Tom Wolf

There has been a considerable amount of discussion regarding the upcoming operational override in conversations between staff members at Acton and Boxborough schools. As the override approaches, there is some anxiety about the 80+ staff members that will be laid off as a result of the budget cut that will displace these educators if we do not achieve a “yes” vote at the end of the month.

Though school employees are worried about their possible career shifts, the primary concern in our schools is still the students we serve. There is no question that the pandemic has done a number on young people’s social and emotional health, and a huge factor in getting kids back to a place where they can feel comfortable in school is having relationships with their teachers and individual classmates. The possible staff reductions across the district and the raising of class sizes they implicate make this even more difficult. It is crucial for the average student to feel comfortable taking academic risks in their classroom spaces. True mastery of the critical thinking skills necessary for this next generation to be successful in their lives going forward is built surrounded by people that students trust.

Not only does there exist this concern regarding classroom environments, but teacher feedback naturally takes a hit as well. With more students in teachers’ classes, there is less time to work on skills with each individual student, and less time to give student work the feedback it deserves. In writing specifically, students receiving high quality feedback from their teacher is a key component in the development of their writer’s voice, higher order thinking skills, and so much more. Because the quality of this feedback simply cannot be sacrificed, students will naturally be afforded less opportunities to work on these crucial developmental steppingstones.

I understand that the tax increase that accompanies this override is not a small ask. But for the sake of investing in the next generation of Acton citizens, I do believe that a “yes” vote on the upcoming override is necessary.

Ryan Morey

English Teacher

Acton-Boxborough Regional School District

As a resident of Acton, a parent, a veteran, and advocate for our community’s future, I ask you to vote for the override to support the citizens of Acton, particularly our school-aged children.

When my family and I considered Acton as our home, we were drawn to its exceptional school district. Acton represented not just a place to live, but an investment in our children’s future. We envisioned a nurturing environment where our kids could thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. However, the looming threat of a failed override threatens this vision.

Acton also holds a special place in my heart as a veteran. It’s more than just a stopover duty station; it’s our choice of community where families like mine find belonging and support. After my years of service, Acton is, and remains, our deliberate home—a place where we could actively invest in improving our community, especially for our youth.

Supporting the override preserves our excellent school system, but it also symbolizes our commitment to the next generation of learners. It’s about equipping them with the necessary tools to succeed not only academically but in life. It’s about ensuring that every child in Acton has the best chance to realize their full potential and become engaged, proactive citizens.

So, let’s invest in our children’s futures. Let’s help to provide them with the education, skills, and experiences they need to thrive in an ever-evolving world, and become the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. 

Finally, supporting this override is about safeguarding the future of our entire community. Strong schools are the bedrock of a vibrant, flourishing community. They attract families, drive economic growth, drive home values, and foster a sense of pride and unity among residents.

In backing the override, we send a resounding message: we believe in our children, our schools, and the future of our community. It signifies our willingness to invest in what truly matters. Let’s come together to preserve Acton as a nurturing environment where every child can flourish and succeed. Our children are depending on us.

Thank you,
David J. Cote
USMCR Retired (US Marine Corps Reserves)

I'm a triple threat here in Acton: a taxpayer, a teacher at the high school, and a parent of a kindergartener. 

The override is certainly a difficult amount of money to swallow, and people may well have qualms with what they perceive as bloat in the school district. But voting against the override to send a message to administrators or the School Committee only punishes teachers and students. My child and his peers will have a lower-quality education if class sizes rise. I will not be able to spend as much time as I do on each of my students' work if there are more kids in each of my sections. Our reputation as a community that values schools will be greatly diminished. 

If we cannot pass Acton's first override since the Bush administration, our ability to attract top educators to this district will likewise evaporate. What applicant would look at a district that faces uncertain support from its residents and wants to dwell in the kind of job insecurity faculty in our schools are dealing with right now? 

Many of us moved here because of the great schools. An additional investment in them—albeit a painful one for many—is necessary. Please vote 'yes' at the ballot and Town Meeting.

Josh Fischel

The June 20, 2008 edition of the now-defunct Beacon published an article written by Christian Schiavone with the following headline: “Main Street McDonald’s closing”.  That article notes that the fast-food restaurant had been at the 256 Main St. location for 3 decades prior to its closure, and that actor Steve Carell, who grew up in Acton, has fond childhood memories of its opening.  In 2013 Panera Bread submitted a proposal to demolish the building and construct a Panera restaurant, but that proposal was rejected by the Select Board due to inadequate parking.  The abandoned McDonald’s is arguably Acton’s ugliest landmark, and it has been in its current state for over 15 years.  And while the restoration of the Kmart building appears to be nearing completion, the workmen appear to be carefully avoiding any disturbance of the McDonald’s.  While I understand that the Town does not own that property, is there nothing that can be done to remove a decaying structure that will never, and can never, be used again?

Ronald Parenti
Dr. Parenti is a member of the Town of Acton Water Resource Committee and the Acton Water District Finance Committee

Your April 1 article Town override information and a forum to answer voter questions promoting the open forum as a “non-partisan” opportunity to discuss the override was quite misleading, to put it nicely. 

There is no mention of who organized this forum. I have received confirmation that this was not a town-sponsored event, so one can only assume the pro-override committee, Together For Acton, was behind it. Four of the five panelists have been openly advocating for the override from their board seats and are listed as supporters of Together For Acton.

As a member of Keep Acton Affordable, I can attest to the fact that no representation was sought from those of us opposed to this hastily prepared override proposal. And apparently no one from the Acton Exchange sought to confirm who was running this event before claiming it to be "non-partisan". Everything in this town is partisan.

This is not the first instance of bias on the nascent Acton Exchange. If you hope to be taken seriously, you’ll need to do better.

Corinne Hogseth 

As I've been campaigning for the operating override here in town, I've heard a lot of understandable complaining about taxes. There's no doubt that Acton taxes are high, and as a taxpayer myself I don't love the idea of paying more. However, when you actually break down how MUCH more you'll pay as a result of the override, I think most folks would be surprised, despite the rhetoric from the override's opponents. For example, if the override fails, my family's taxes will still go up about $300 per year. If the override passes, my family's taxes will go up about $750 per year. In other words, the difference between adequate funding for our schools and devastating cuts is about $450 per year, or roughly $37 per month. I know we're all struggling with rising costs and inflation, but I'll happily pay an additional $37 every month to invest in the next generation of informed citizens.

And to be clear, the cuts being proposed in the event of a failed override are not "nice to haves" or "extras." Without an operating override, our school district will have to lay off more than 80 staff members, including more than 60 teachers. Those kinds of cuts not only impact class size, but also put even more pressure and stress on educators to meet the myriad needs of students after two straight years of budget reductions. We haven't passed an operating override in close to 20 years, and it's time for our community to re-invest in education and make sure that our students and staff have the resources they need to be successful.

I encourage everyone who believes in public education to vote “yes” on the override on April 30 and again on May 6.

Regards,

Mike Balulescu
President, Acton Boxborough Education Association
Together for Acton campaign volunteer

My name is Dawn Peterson and I live in Acton with my husband and 10-year-old son. We made the eleventh-hour decision on Sunday night to  drive toward Montpelier to try to catch totality. (Our young pup made the trip, too).

As an astronomer, I was hesitant to book anything in advance, given the typical weather in New England in April! But as the date got closer and the forecast was looking fairly clear, I’ll be honest, I was feeling some FOMO hearing how many of my friends (astronomers and non-astronomers) were traveling to see the eclipse. And none of us has ever, experienced a total solar eclipse.

Since Acton is only about 180 miles from the closest spot in the zone of totality, it seemed like a no brainer to just go ahead and try to see it. (I didn't really get any good photos. I wasn’t prepared – and completely forgot my binoculars and DSLR – but I did remember our eclipse glasses!)

We left Acton at 10 a.m. on Monday and were rolling into the zone of totality just as the eclipse was starting in Barre, Vermont, around 2:15 p.m. It wasn't a glamorous spot, but we set up chairs in a muddy parking lot adjacent to their main street and got to experience totality -- after all, we were looking at the sky, not our surroundings.

Experiencing the darkness and how chilly it got was otherworldly, and my favorite was seeing the “diamond ring effect” and the sun's corona. The time of totality was brief since we were just at the edge of the zone, but I'm so glad we decided to make the drive!

The advantage of being on the edge of the zone of totality was that we missed a lot of the traffic we heard about. It “only” took us about 4 hours to get home -- probably leading the pack of cars out of Vermont. We were back in Acton around 8:30 p.m. Monday night, still smiling and grateful for this unique family memory of the 2024 total solar eclipse.

Dawn Peterson

As a ten-year volunteer for the Acton-Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council (AB SEPAC), I am deeply concerned about what will happen to our students with disabilities should the Acton override fail. Cuts do not spare this population; we in fact will lose special education staff and administration even if the override passes. Investing in special education saves the district money in the long run. Mandated transportation expenses and state-dictated Out-of-District tuition increases for our students requiring the highest levels of support are major budget drivers. Children who missed Early Intervention from birth to age 3 due to pandemic closures have entered our schools without that critical foundation. To avoid sending more students Out-of-District, the district needs to be able to hire and retain staff to support the creation of in-house special education programs. Failing to pass the override will set back these efforts for years to come. Our community's most vulnerable students need your support on April 30th in the Acton Town Election and again at the Acton Town Meeting on May 6th. Those looking to learn more about special education and the budget can reach out to abrsdsepac@gmail.com or see the FAQ published by the AB SEPAC at absepac.org.

Amanda Bailey
Co-Chair, Acton-Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council

I would like to congratulate the members of the Acton Exchange for taking the news gathering of Marion Maxwell and her compatriots to the next level.  This is not an easy undertaking and Acton readers wish them well.  Marion has provided the community with all news Acton as well as arts, entertainment, humor and police.

Marion's news has given links to town meetings etc., which gives readers a chance to hear the issues.  Links provide transparency and allow citizens unable to come to meetings to hear what is being discussed and voted upon in their absence.   Sustaining Marion's online news will achieve an informed citizen and a sustained reader. When all the sides of an issue are presented equally, all readers become educated.   Democracy needs an informed and educated public...It is through the expression of an opposing view, as well as the prevailing view, that allows the reader a chance to understand the underlying thoughts for both positions. Personally, I am hoping that they will continue to present all the news in a way that is balanced.

We look forward to 'just the facts' and no spin to favor a position.  All too often opposing views get little or no ink or air.  Let editorials be the place where your readers can provide input.

Judi Kotanchik

What were Acton Select Board members thinking when they supported a six-million-dollar tax hike for next year? They couldn't be thinking of seniors who live on fixed incomes and are already stretching their Social Security checks so far. "Select Board Members, have you spoken to your parents?" Where are seniors going to get the extra thousands of dollars every year to pay these taxes? 

Acton voters, vote "NO!" on the override. We need to draw the line somewhere. We're already paying increased school taxes every year even though pupil enrollment is decreasing.

Bonnie Lobel

I am opposed to the upcoming override vote. Many seniors will be required to trade payment of essentials for their tax bill. Their resources are already stretched. I do not see the same attitude on the part of our leadership (ALG). The original “ask” for fiscal 2025 was $12M. It was reduced to $6.6M simply because ALG did not think an increase above $1200 per year for the average home would generate a positive vote. Expenses have not been significantly reduced – in fact budgets\assessments of fiscal 25 are up from 24 and increase again in fiscal 26. New capital expenditures for fiscal 25 are over 2X those of fiscal 24.  Union contracts reflect 4+% increases annually. MinuteMan Tech. assessment is up 9% for fiscal 25 and 28% for fiscal 26. ALG continues to deplete reserves.

 ALG points out that their expenses are below the average of Commonwealth communities. True, but Acton made two significant mistakes in past years; they did not add enough commercial mix to the tax rolls, and they touted the outstanding quality of their school, hence drawing families with school-age children, families who tend to vote for every school request when their kids are in school and then often move to lower-tax communities once the kids have graduated. Some look at Acton as a cost/benefit exercise – Acton’s high taxes and free schools of quality compared to lower taxes elsewhere and private schools. A/B continues to see declining enrollment and increasing budgets, and their assessment is twice the town operating budget.  Although Acton spends somewhat less, their tax as a % of income per capita (IPC) is 17+%. This measure of tax to income places Acton among the highest of Massachusetts Communities. Acton’s take, including CPA and auto excise will be about $16K on the average home value, a significant portion of your disposable income.

Unless Acton changes spending, its residents will face overrides in future years. Acton is simply spending over their means. I oppose the override because Acton has not taken adequate steps to reduce expenses. Please vote your conscience in the April 30 Acton election.

Bob Hertz

Since moving to Acton almost three years ago, I have wondered why the school district’s annual report is not posted electronically, or at least printed on inexpensive and lightweight newsprint. Instead, I receive in the mail a sturdy booklet printed in expensive full color and on expensive glossy pages. I feel the heft of that booklet in my hand and I wonder how much the post office charges the school district to mail them to every resident in Acton.

In addition to that experience, I have attended two events at the high school since moving here; both times food was served. I presume that the food was paid for by the school district because no parent or other group was acknowledged and thanked for providing food for the meals. Serving food to visitors and guests was not necessary at either event. Lobster rolls and organic fruit were served at one of those events. In my opinion, the only food purchased through the school district’s budget should be the food served to our students during the school day.

I haven’t lived here very long, but witnessing these unnecessary and wasteful expenditures reveals that Acton taxpayer money is not managed with a sense of thrift. On April 30, I plan to vote NO on the proposed tax override because I prefer that my tax dollars be managed more efficiently.

On a related subject, layoffs are likely if the override is defeated. I am reminded of the time early in my career when I was laid off. Jobs were hard to find at that time and in my field. Today, National Public Radio reports that 48% of public schools in the northeast are understaffed. Some are so desperate to fill positions that they are hiring individuals without required education and certification, including teachers. Any staff laid off from AB schools will have many opportunities for employment in the area.

Joan Milnes

I just read the article about Stop and Shop by Jeff Brown and want to point out an error.  The sentence, “Other grocery stores in the area include a Stop and Shop in West Concord near the Acton line, . . .”  should have read “Other grocery stores in the area include a Stop and Shop in Acton near the West Concord line, . . .“  The store is in Acton, not West Concord.

I'm very glad that we have the Acton Exchange.

Suzanne Fuller

Editors' note: The writer is correct. This error has been corrected and noted in the article, in accordance with the Acton Exchange correction policy.

Thanks lots for publishing the article on the override. This is really a service to the Town, and one that is needed.

David Shoemaker

With respect to your January 3 article on State Approval of Acton's Participation in Fossil Fuel Free Building Construction and Renovation Demonstration Project: Does this apply to single family residences and small condos, or only to commercial or larger multi-family builldings? The article does not specify.

David Boccuti